Standard Commander: Anafenza, the Foremost

Welcome to a new series that will update twice a year: Standard Commander. This will be a way to get into the format with cards you already have or can easily pick up. Starting with the new Two-Block Paradigm, I'll be making changes to each deck with every rotation.

This week, I present to you a deck featuring Anafenza, the Foremost.

General x1 Anafenza, the Foremost Legendary Creatures (10) x1 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit x1 Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim x1 Daghatar the Adamant x1 Dragonlord Dromoka x1 Drana, Liberator of Malakir x1 Dromoka, the Eternal x1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet x1 Kytheon, Hero of Akros x1 Liliana, Heretical Healer x1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer Creatures (19) x1 Abzan Battle Priest x1 Abzan Falconer x1 Ainok Bond-Kin x1 Arashin Cleric x1 Armament Corps x1 Deathmist Raptor x1 Den Protector x1 Disowned Ancestor x1 Elite Scaleguard x1 Hangarback Walker x1 Heir of the Wilds x1 Ivorytusk Fortress x1 Mer-Ek Nightblade x1 Rakshasa Deathdealer x1 Siege Rhino x1 Snapping Gnarlid x1 Sylvan Advocate x1 Warden of the First Tree x1 Wingmate Roc

Instants (7) x1 Abzan Charm x1 Dromoka's Command x1 Inspiring Call x1 Murderous Cut x1 Ultimate Price x1 Utter End x1 Valorous Stance Sorceries (9) x1 Duress x1 Flaying Tendrils x1 Incremental Growth x1 Infinite Obliteration x1 Languish x1 Ruinous Path x1 Self-Inflicted Wound x1 Tragic Arrogance x1 Transgress the Mind Enchantments (6) x1 Abzan Ascendancy x1 Hardened Scales x1 Retreat to Hagra x1 Retreat to Kazandu x1 Silkwrap x1 Stasis Snare

Artifacts (9) x1 Abzan Banner x1 Alchemist's Vial x1 Chitinous Cloak x1 Dromoka Monument x1 Hero's Blade x1 Meteorite x1 Prism Ring x1 Veteran's Sidearm x1 Vial of Dragonfire Planeswalkers (4) x1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar x1 Ob Nixilis, Reignited x1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor x1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon Lands (35) x1 Blighted Fen x1 Blighted Steppe x1 Blighted Woodland x1 Blossoming Sands x1 Canopy Vista x1 Caves of Koilos x1 Evolving Wilds x1 Hissing Qagmire x1 Jungle Hollow x1 Llanowar Wastes x1 Rogue's Passage x1 Sandsteppe Citadel x1 Scoured Barrens x1 Shambling Vent x1 Tranquil Expanse x1 Unknown Shores x1 Windswept Heath x6 Plains x6 Swamp x6 Forest

For this deck, I wanted to get various aspects from Standard Abzan decks along with a theme with +1/+1 counters.

As far as the +1/+1 counters go, there are a few key cards:

    

    

While these creatures put +1/+1 counters on themselves, they add important abilities such as deathtouch, first strike, and lifelink.

    

Additionally, there are several properties of Abzan Midrange with Siege Rhino, Deathmist Raptor, and Den Protector. It's pretty much an EDH deck that blends all the Standard Abzan decks together and reduces all cards to single copies instead of the three or four copies you would expect of certain cards.